Suleiman Kerimov underpaid in France 400 million euros of taxes

Details of the case of billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, a member of the Federation Council from Dagestan, which the French authorities accused of tax evasion and money laundering, have become known. As reported by the channel France 3, the Russian senator is accused of underpaying taxes for the amount of about € 400 million due to understating the value of real estate. In the case of Mr. Kerimov arrested realtor, whose name is not called, said the channel referring to the prosecutor of the city of Nice. Also in the case is the manager villas Cedric Fozhru, he was released on bail of € 140 thousand.

Recall, the prosecution is based on the results of the investigation, which is conducted since 2015. In it, according to the French media, companies of the Swiss citizen Alexander Studhalter, who together with his parents Rudolf and Albina are engaged in investment and real estate transactions, as well as the charity fund Suleyman Kerimov Foundation, in which the senator transferred all of its assets, before the Russian officials were forbidden to own real estate abroad. Ostensibly, entering the board of the fund, Alexander Studhalter conducted transactions on the Cote d'Azur, including in the interests of Mr. Kerimov.

Last week, preliminary hearings on the case of Suleiman Kerimov ended. The court found the charges against the senator reasonable, but released him on bail of € 5 million with the obligation not to leave the department of the Maritime Alps. The Nice Public Prosecutor's Office contested the release of Mr Kerimov. The prosecutor of the city Jean-Michel Pratr believes that the senator must be in pre-trial detention. Suleiman Kerimov denied involvement in the machinations.